xv, 318 pages : 23 cm

"Communities of Practice presents a theory of learning that starts with this assumption: engagement in social practice is the fundamental process by which we learn and so become who we are. The primary unit of analysis of this process is neither the individual nor social institutions but rather the informal "communities of practice" that people form as they pursue shared enterprises over time. In order to give a social account of learning, the theory explores in a systematic way the intersection of issues of community, social practice, meaning, and identity. The result is a broad conceptual framework for thinking about learning as a process of social participation"--Jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-307) and index

Prologue: Contexts. Introduction: A social theory of learning -- Vignette I: Welcome to claims processing! -- Vignette II: The "C, F, and J" thing -- Coda 0: Understanding -- Practice. The concept of practice -- Meaning -- Community -- Learning -- Boundary -- Locality -- Coda I: Knowing in practice -- Identity. A focus on identity -- Identity in practice -- Participation and non-participation -- Modes of belonging -- Identification and negotiability -- Coda II: Learning communities -- Epilogue: Design. Synopsis: Design for learning -- Learning architectures -- Organizations -- Education

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